Mad River Double Dread Imperial Red

Bottle and served in GI IPA tulip: Deep hazy reddish brown with a frothy off white head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of high alpha resiny and citric hops, crystal and toasty malts, pepper and clove, touch of walnut, and earthy esters. The taste is initially sweet malts but the hop bitterness and acidity come forth quickly. Supported by a hop spice kick and mineral water, finish is a touch alcoholic. The mouth feel is medium to full-bodied, aggressive and lively, chalky resiny finish. All told a fine brew but seems to favor the hops and booze a bit too much.

12oz bottle. Poured a deeper reddish/amberish color with a large sized off white head. Cloudy with lots of bigger floaters. Aromas of caramel, yeasty, floral, and breadiness. Tastes of caramel, earthy, toffee, and some citrus.

Name: Double Dread
Date: September 22, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Belmont Station, Portland
Appearance: muddy dark red, fine beige head, heavy lace
Aroma: sweet dark caramel aroma, touch of candy sweetness, lots of earthyness, nice citrus, hint of pine
Flavor: big bitter earthy flavor, just a hint of the caramel sweetness, light bready character, long bitter finish
Overall: the beer is big and agressive, but needs some of the caramel sweetness from the aroma to balance it out
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+ /4

Pours deep amber into a snifter. Beige head with medium retention recedes to hug rim. Sweet caramel and resin aromas. Sweet and full with syrupy caramel and nuts with a lasting grapefruit and pine hop finish.

Nose is sweet and malty. Dark fruit, caramel and toffee as well as some pine and peppery/floral hop notes. Pours dark reddish amber with a thin head. Sweet and malty up front. Caramel, toffee, fruity sweetness. Bitter earthy and piney hops in the finish.

Thanks Hayduke! This beer pours a dark murky brown with a nice thick head that is light tan. Good retention. Aroma is funk and yeast. Flavor is big and biting. This is a well hopped beer offering tart citrus fruit, pine, and caramel. It also has a sweet side that shows up more with warmer temperature. There is plenty of fruit and earthiness to go around. Funkiness to match. A fine beer that kept my taste buds on their toes.

Pours a deep hazy orange amber with a medium deeper off white bubbly/creamy head. Aroma of rich caramel and toasted malt, nuts, floral, citrus and lightly piney hops. Flavor of caramel, toffee, pine resin, grapefruit and oranges. Nice hoppy amber.

Bottle. Pours a clear rusty red with a thin off-white head. Aroma is full of caramel notes from the malts. Flavor is full of a lighter caramel flavor with a nice alcohol bit and a slight bit of piney hops. Alcohol bite at the end a bit strong.